Beach scene exercise

 

6x8' acrylic on Ampersand Gessobord

This was a quick little exercise for me.  I had fun painting with my granddaughter who was visiting someone in Sicily and shared this view of the beach from the apartment balcony.  We painted together via FaceTime which works out great since she also lives in California.  Sometimes technology can be wonderful, it allows us to share and create together.  Other times you want to throw everything out the window.  And yes, I would rather have been sitting on that balcony! 

Deborah Ann Kirkeeide ©

Polka Dot Play

Click Here For More Info:  8x8 inches, acrylic on 1/8" Ampersand Gessobord

My favorite artist was playing with some polka dot paintings so I was eager to try.  Couldn't this be a still life in Minnie Mouse's house?  All those bright colors and dots!  The 50's were a great time for polka dots, they just say have fun.

This painting is varnished and ready to go!

Deborah Ann Kirkeeide ©

Poultry Pageant

 

Acrylic, 10x20 inch on a wide cradled canvas.  

I've been laid up with a bug for over 3 weeks while the painting waited impatiently to be completed.  The canvas sat around in my studio for several years waiting for the perfect subject matter.  Seems I'm stuck on birds lately having painted three different crow paintings in a row.  I love birds and have made our yard bird friendly in order to watch their antics along with the squirrels.  A photo reference from pixabay.com inspired me for this piece but needed some editing to fit the canvas and work out other issues.  I edited the photo quite a bit pumping up the colors, adding the fun decorative details like stripes and checkers.  One of the end chickens faced looking out of the picture, flipping it to face the other chickens made a better composition. 

Deborah Ann Kirkeeide ©

The Gift

 

Click Here For More Info:  8x8 inches, acrylic on canvas panel

Crow #4.  I painted this piece without the ribbon and felt something was missing.  Doing a little research I discovered some interesting stories about crows sometimes leaving gifts for people who feed them.  Although those gifts are probably more like rocks or shells the ribbon made a better composition especially with the addition of the red.  And who knows crows are fascinating creatures who can surprise us, even with a red ribbon.

Deborah Ann Kirkeeide ©

The Guest

 

Click Here For More Info:  8x10 inches, acrylic on a cradled panel (Da Vinci pro panel)

Crow painting #3.  Using a palette knife is new for me, the process and textures are amazing.  Also it was a lot of fun experimenting with the background colors on this piece, just doing whatever in the moment.  Even though crows seem to be basically black there is much more color in their feathers than you think.

Deborah Ann Kirkeeide ©

Country Road

 

Click Here For More Info:  $135, 8x8 inches, acrylic on Ampersand gessobord

This started out as a landscape only and was painted a while back.  Although I liked the painting it needed something to finish so it sat and sat.  I thought maybe a cow in the field but that didn't feel right.  Eventually other things grabbed my attention, holidays came and went then someone commissioned me to do a crow.  The light bulb went off and the crows ended up being the perfect something.  Did you know that a group of crows is called a murder of crows?  I think it might have to do with superstitions but check it out.

I use professional heavy body acrylics and Ampersand gessobord is an acid free museum series panel.

Deborah Ann Kirkeeide ©

Rum River Reflections

 

Click Here For Info:  $135, 8x8 inches, acrylic on Ampersand gessobord

I stumbled across this painting the other day which I never posted because in my opinion wasn't good enough.  It brought back memories of my awesome artist friend, teacher and mentor Paul Boecher who we recently lost.  He was always a source of encouragement and inspiration with that "you can do it" spirit, and the first artist who encouraged me to paint plein air (outdoors).  My heart is full with many memories of sitting next to him on the bank of a river.  Thank you Paul for the confidence to say this painting is good enough.

Deborah Ann Kirkeeide ©

Spring Profusion

 

Another abstract:  12x12 inches, Acrylic on cradled panel

Experimenting and playing with new techniques and materials.  I'm loving the cradled panels, palette knives and Catalyst brushes.  The abstracts are finally becoming a joyful process.  I play with them for days seeing where they will go, where they will take me.  

This one has been entered in a local competition, fingers crossed it gets in.  I will not be disappointed if it's rejected, I believe it's one of my better pieces.

Onward!

Deborah Ann Kirkeeide ©

Deliberation

 

 NFS

My very first completed abstract that I like!  Something is clicking finally.  The palette knives came out which belonged to my Mom and were new to me but they added the texture needed.  They made such a big difference and guided me through the process.  Working with thicker paint, letting go of edges and just plain letting go was a great eye opener.  So much more fun than representational subject matter.  I'm moving forward with more abstracts!

Deborah Ann Kirkeeide ©

Skip It

 

Click Here For More Info:  $125, 6x6 inches, acrylic on watercolor paper

Who could resist a great photo reference like this (another from pixabay.com)?  I couldn't, it represents everything, good memories of a simple life, grandchildren, pets and sunshine.  I'm working to loosen up and let details go, just simplify which isn't as easy as it sounds.  

A black gesso ground was applied to the watercolor paper before painting.  

Deborah Ann Kirkeeide ©

Summer Wheels

 

Click Here For More Info: $250, 9x12 inches, acrylic on 1/8" Ampersand gessobord

Yay summer!  Riding my bike again is one of summers pleasures.  Thanks pixabay.com for this bright and cheery photo reference.  Just on a note, there is more orange in the painting than you see here.  

Be aware there can be some differences in color due to digital images and monitors but I try hard to get as close as possible.

Deborah Ann Kirkeeide ©

Curiosity and the Cats

 

Click Here For More Info:  $125, 8x8 inches, acrylic on Ampersand Gessobord

Summer of 2022 I had the best time drawing and photographing four alpacas at a week long drawing camp through Rumriver art Center.  We were allowed to go into the enclosure for an up and close encounter with these four great guys.  We had to be careful because they would spit at each other competing for treats.  There was also a Momma cat looking for attention after delivering a litter of kittens. I threw in an extra cat for fun.  

I debated painting this photo for a long time, fear of failure is usually the culprit.  The alpacas had just been shaved and looked a little scrawny but this pose was calling to be captured in paint.

Be aware there can be some differences in color due to digital images and monitors but I try hard to get as close as possible.

Deborah Ann Kirkeeide ©

St. Croix Trail

 

Acrylic 12x12 inches, painted on a DaVinci cradled pro panel, a new panel for me.

This is painted using my photo reference from a favorite place to hike on the Wisconsin Minnesota border along the St. Croix river.  Tall cliffs, huge rocks and wonderful trails.  You can sit on the cliffs and watch the old time paddle boats go by filled with vacationers.  Great memories here with children and grandchildren.  I gifted this painting to my grandson for his recent wedding.

The panel is super smooth, no texture and the paint slips and slides along the surface letting the paint flow.  It almost felt like working with oil again.  And I'm trying some new brushes, Catalyst by Princeton Flats, they hold more paint and again more flow.  Loving them!  Always good to try new things because you never know what you might be missing. Thanks to Acrylic University for valuable tips and information.

Deborah Ann Kirkeeide ©

Winter's Glow

 

Click Here For More Info:  $100, 8x8 inches, Acrylic on canvas panel

This photo reference was used in one of my drawing classes and it was always my goal to paint it someday.  So it's off my to do list which I don't always accomplish, my to do list is way too long.  Capturing light is always a fascinating subject.

Deborah Ann Kirkeeide © 

Extreme Encounter

 Click Here For More Info - $200, 8x8 inches, Acrylic on 1/8" Ampersand gessobord

Lionfish are an extreme natural wonder, extreme in my opinion.  It looks like an alien or it should be in a circus, I mean what a great outfit its adorned with.  I think a costume like this has been done in sci-fi movies.  But you don't want to get to close as it has a natural weapon with those spines.  Anyway I needed some color and have been putting this project off for some time, (you can probably understand why) and this filled my desire for color. 

I use professional heavy body acrylics and Ampersand gessobord is an acid free museum series panel. 

Deborah Ann Kirkeeide ©

What's Up?

 

Click Here For More Info - $100, 6x6 inches Acrylic on Ampersand gessobord

So what do you do with left over paint?  Left over paint always bothers me, I just can't waste it.  I've been making prints of my palette lately but you can only have so many of those.  Using left over paint to tone panels works great also.  This time it worked to do another painting and What's Up was created.  This little goldfish looks like its on its way up, maybe there's food or a friend, or maybe it's just touring its world.  

I use professional heavy body acrylics and Ampersand gessobord is an acid free museum series panel.

Deborah Ann Kirkeeide ©

A Place To Rest

 

Original 8x8 inch acrylic painting on Ampersand Gessobord.  It took me over a year to find the courage to paint this photo reference.  This is one of those places where I long to live or even be able to visit.  I can just imagine sitting by the river with my paint and easel watching the geese with maybe a rowboat passing by.  The photo reference was found on pixabay.com and I should have taken note of the location.  My first attempt at painting this piece was not meeting my expectations.  Using my iPhone and taking a photo of the piece in progress always helps identify issues, so after reworking several areas I'm at peace.  Which is what I want this painting to reflect.

Deborah Ann Kirkeeide ©

Sunset Drive

 

Original 6x6 inch acrylic painting on watercolor paper.  Finally feeling settled after my winter trip and making time to paint again.  I did this as a little practice piece and ended up loving how it turned out so I'm posting.  Catching light continues to be a fascinating subject pushing me forward to explore more challenges.  

I will be posting this for sale in May when I open my Daily Paintworks gallery.  And thanks to pixabay for the great photo reference.

Deborah Ann Kirkeeide ©

The Yellow House

 This is a little 6x8" original acrylic painting on Ampersand gesso board that I finished recently.  I used a great photo reference from pixabay.com.  The orangish color is actually more of a pinky orange, funny how some colors don't translate very well but I love the captured light.  What a grand adventure it would be to visit this place and paint.  

In May when I get my Daily Paintworks gallery up and running, I will post this for sale.

Deborah Ann Kirkeeide ©

Cottage painting

 

Painting #2 from my Acrylic University class homework.  This was a practice painting from a black & white photo adding your own color renditions.  It was an exercise seeing values and translating them to color.  Super good exercise.  Notice it's the same subject matter in my Cottage drawing I posted below.  Photo reference from pixabay.com.  I'm deliberating on lighting the sky. ?

Deborah Ann Kirkeeide ©